No. 24 Monarchs Down American University 23-9

Post-Game Press Conference:

NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion University wrestling team dominated American University on its way to a 23-9 victory on Friday night.

The dual meet started out with Rob Deutsch facing American's No. 26 David Terao. Deutsch was able to score two points off a takedown with 49 seconds left in the first period. Terao then escaped to pull the match to 2-1. In the second period, Deutsch escaped with 40 seconds remaining to take a 3-1 lead. Besides a riding point for Deutsch, the third period remained scoreless and Deutsch ended up beating Terao 4-1.

In the 133 pound match, Esteban Gomez-Rivera of American took an early 2-0 lead on Scott Festejooff a takedown with 20 seconds remaining in the firstperiod. Festejo escaped with 55 seconds remaining in the second period to cut the lead to 2-1. In the third period, Festejo escaped then took Gomez-Rivera down and followed that by 3 back points all within 30 seconds to win the match 9-3. ODU took an early 6-0 lead over American University.

In the 141 pound bout, ODU's Chris Mecate faced American's John Boyle. Mecate got an early takedown in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Both Boyle and Mecate got an escape point in the second period to make the score 3-1 after two periods. Boyle got another escape point early in the third period to cut Mecate's lead to 3-2 with 1:40 remaining in the match. Boyle then escaped to tie the match 3-3 with 45 seconds left; however, Mecate's riding time was enough to win the match 4-3 and give the Monarchs a 9-0 lead over American.

The 149 pound match featured ODU's Alexander Richardson and American's No. 26 Kevin Tao. Tao went up 2-0 off a takedown in the first period. Richardson would cut the lead in half with an escape to end the first period. With 30 seconds left in the second period, Richardson escaped again to tie the match at 2-2 after the second period. Tao started off the third period with an escape and ending up beating Richardson 4-2. ODU now led American 9-3.

In the 157 match, ODU's Brennan Brumley faced American's Mark Cirello. Brumley scored first with a two-point takedown in the first period. Brumley followed that up with three takedowns and an escape in the second period to take a 9-1 lead over Cirello going into the third period. Brumley went on to major decision Cirello 10-2 and gave ODU a 13-3 lead over American.

At 165 pounds, ODU's Brett Miller wrestled Phillip Barriero. Barriero got off to an early 2-0 lead, before Miller escaped and got a takedown of his own to take a 3-2 lead. Barriero would escape to tie the match 3-3 after the first period. Barriero escaped in the second period to take a 4-3 lead into the third period. Miller started the third period with a takedown which gave him a 5-4 lead. Barriero then escaped to tie the match at 5-5. Barriero ended up taking Miller down and then nearfalled him to cruise to a 10-5 victory. ODU still held onto a 13-6 lead.

In the 174 pound match, ODU's Billy Curling faced American's Keithen Cast. After two periods, Curling held onto a 1-0 lead. Cast cut the lead to 2-1 with an escape, but Curling got another takedown to beat Cast 3-1 and give ODU a 16-6 lead over American.

In the 184 pound match, ODU's Austin Coburn faced American's Thomas Barriero. With two minutes remaining in the first period, Coburn took a 2-0 lead off a takedown. Coburn then escaped to take a 3-0 lead into the third period. Barriero escaped early in the third period to cut the lead to 3-1. Coburn followed that up with another takedown and a 5-1 lead over Barriero. Barriero would later escape in the third period, but Coburn proved to be too much as he won 6-2 and gave ODU a 19-6 lead over American.

In the 197 pound match, ODU's Jacob Henderson faced American's Devon Bradley. Henderson started off the match with an early takedown to take a 2-0 lead. In the second period, Henderson escaped, got two points for a takedown and then nearfalled Bradley to take an 8-0 lead into the third period. Henderson got another takedown and points for an escape and riding time to finish off to a 12-0 victory over Bradley. Henderson's major decision gave ODU a 23-6 lead.

In the final match of the night, ODU's No. 24 Matt Tourdot faced American's No. 30 Blake Herrin. Herrin scored first with a two-point takedown. Tourdot followed that with an escape to going into the second period down 2-1. Herrin started off the second period with an escape to take a 3-1 lead. Herrin ended the second period with another takedown and took a 5-1 lead into the third period. Tourdot started the third period off with an escape to cut the lead to 5-2, but Herrin went on to beat Tourdot 7-2.